In quickly perusing the news today, looks like many articles....and many still talk of the new government....at least one is talking about the government being formed in the coming "hours"....we shall see....there also seems to still be some positions that are being vied for within the COM of Abadi's.

Weightings government's announcement today

First to be "teed" up is a conflict over any announcement today versus perhaps on Monday.....as the days draw down to hours before the Constitutional deadline looms there is belief that the meetings, discussions, and demands are flowing well at this point in time....now if they could only appease the US on the issue of Defense Minister.

Abadi puts the finishing touches on his government

As Abadi works on the last minute details of his list....the speculation continues to fly fast and furious as to who he will finally light up....who he will call....who will be rejected by the US...though they play no role in this process....go figure....and what will make the religious clerics happy as well as the Kurds, the Sunnis, and the Iraqi people.

Lawsuits against the perpetrators of the crime ((Spyker))

The Wasit province is activating law suits against those that are responsible of the Spyker crimes...the slaughter of 1,700 Iraqis....but just who are they naming in the suits.....are they indeed going after ISIS....DAASH....or some other entity....there is to be three days of mourning for those killed.

Jubouri heads of blocs meet today to discuss the budget

Speaker of Parliament al-Jubouri called for a special meeting with political bloc heads....on the 2014 budget...this meeting was to be an hour before Parliament's opening at 11:00 am Baghdad time.....the topic of the meeting was working on the 2014 budget...and....remember you read it here first......delays in the 2015 budget.....the reasoning he gives is that the COM....who hasn't been approved yet, have not had a chance to work on said budget....so let's give them a 3 month delay.....shaking my head....they too seem guilty of "having a strategy".

Najafion optimistic about the possibility of forming a new government within the constitutional period

Economic experts continue to weigh in with their opinions....stating that the new government should be formed within the Constitutional time frame required....but as to how success said government will be is a good guess....they will be met with many demands from all walks of Iraq....and from the international arena as well.....they will be responsible for change....change from the old government's way of doing business, change from a very corrupt society within Iraq....and to make effective change they must be very strong.

Washington threatens Barzani: military support in return for reducing the demands of the Kurds to form a government

Well first the US won't provide arms and equipment to the Kurds to fight the terrorists....then they do....now they decide to THREATEN the Kurds by withholding the same military support.....all to get the Kurds to back off on some of their demands before the new government....this should prove to be interesting....another ally to the US that we now threaten....the US foreign policy is currently in the tank and the bottom just keeps sinking lower and lower.....so who's side is the US really on....they can do nothing but appear wishy-washy at best to the leaders of these people....a true display of weakness on our part....yet Barzani agrees to stopping the flow of oil out of the Kurdistan....incredible....the Kurds are handily proving to the rest of Iraq that oil can and is being moved....that Baghdad needs to get up to speed or be left behind....for not being involved in this process, the US is doing a great job of just "stumbling" into meetings at odd times.

Washington: the elimination of "Daash" It may take 3 years

How funny this article appears and sounds....that "we"...the US will hunt down fighters of the ISIS but we are not putting boots on the ground to do this....one good thing....the US is winning international support in an effort to attack the ISIS terrorists....the article mentioned obama's lack of strategy last week....he is obviously looking for other allies to jump in and help create this strategy so that all the responsibility does not lie upon US shoulders....the US continues to down play the critical threat that ISIS plays to the US and the western world...by saying their leadership has been routed....they are not as strong as they once were due to US bombing....in meetings with England and France....obama insists on more than just air strikes...the need for "comprehensive strategies"....but who knows what that will entail...until the other forces define it....doesn't seem to be an action item on the radar screen for the US at this point in time.....makes one begin to wonder....how long can air strikes put off the inevitable of putting boots on the ground to "mop things up".....2 to 3 years would run into and just past 2016...hmmm...who would be responsible then.

Source: al-Zubaidi, a candidate for the post of defense minister after Washington's refusal to Ameri

So the jigsaw continues to evolve...and yes the US seems to have a thumb in the game of forming the new Iraqi government....by disavowing their initial selections of Defense Ministers....causing some extra delays....am surprised that Abadi doesn't just look to the US and say....."give us a name of your liking....of your choosing" and we will go on about our business.....then he will mutter...."it seems to me that you were the ones to select my predecessor....see what that bought you"....shaking my head.

Kurdistan declares its adherence to the Foreign Ministry .. The alliance wants to force the position of Deputy Commanding General

Squabbles between the Kurds and Abadi and the Sunnis and Abadi are ongoing as to who gets what ministry position....are things about to be resolved....anyone's guess at this stage. No doubt when the dust settles no doubt there will be ones with ruffled feathers....just praying they aren't ruffled too far in the wrong direction.....right now Iraq needs all the support it can find, internally and externally.

Rafidain Bank calls for shop owners to review for ATM

The Rafidain Bank in Iraq continues to make headlines....this time asking shop owners to look at the possibility of accepting the ATM card as a sign of their progress along with the banking sector's need to continue to improve....the Rafidain Bank is working hard to utilize electronic cards especially for payment of retirees who live outside the country...and in other areas that make economical sense as well.....they have a term....maybe an issue with translation "Ironing Card"....the card that should be in everyone's wallet....but they need to hasten the inclusion of businesses to accept the card....otherwise it just collects pocket lint.

Abadi's office confirms that the government would be presented to parliament in the coming hours

Well are we seeing a change in patterns...first just give us 2 days....2 more days....ok give us 48 hours....now we are seeing the request that the government will be presented to Parliament in the "coming hours".....still the focus is upon Abadi to get his work completed in the allotted time frame.

Close all roads to the Green Zone

Don't leave home without your identity and expect to gain access to the Green Zone.....all roads are now closed...and travel restricted.....could this be in preparation for the presentation of Abadi's government to the Parliament yet today....interesting changes in the normality of things for Baghdad.

Abadi: the government will be formed on time and will not accept any conditions unconstitutional

Abadi's pledge continues to be that the government will be formed on time...and he will not accept any demands or requirements that he believes are unconstitutional....Abadi appears to be proving his beliefs cannot be wavered in the interest of time....or for any other reason.....sounds like the making of a good PM.

Saleem al-Jubouri: Ministers reject the final hours

Speaker of Parliament al-Jubouri outright denies there have been last minute changes in the list of ministers...he says this would be a show of weakness, one subject to political ploys...where instead it is strengthened by being efficient, experienced, and full of integrity.

Moussawi: the budget deficit in 2014 of the main problems that hinder the approval

One member of Parliament has the belief that the 2014 budget has many problems but the main issue is the deficit within the budget being too large and unmanageable.....this MP still is looking backward at what was initially given to Parliament....look at the present and what needs to happen instead in order to see that change is brought about.

Abadi: the next few hours will see a display line-up

Again, "the next few hours" should see the appearance and announcement of Abadi's proposed ministry.....even as I've been typing all these news summaries this morning....we have seen "a few hours" evolve.....he continues to stress competence and integrity, while staying within the time constraints of the Constitution....he seems to have strong feelings on this.

Interim Committee addresses the Minister of Finance to determine the date of re-balancing of the Parliament and the House of Representatives included the demands of the Kurds

Well the interim committee addressing the 2014 budget now has a new leader since Abadi left that position a month ago....they are again moving forward it would seem...they will be addressing many concerns and needs in the coming days...one of which includes demands from the Kurds.

Official: Kurds Should Stop Pursuing Some Disputed Areas

To me it seems that the Kurds are once again being asked to give up quite a bit to see a new government formed.....now they are being asked to let go of some or much of the area of real estate they have garnered since June 10th.....areas their Peshmerga have dutifully defended in the absence of Maliki's Iraqi Army.....more and more concessions on their part....it is unbelievable at just how forgiving these people can be....however this suggestion to give up selected areas is that of just one individual....we shall see what happens in this area.

Parliament postpones vote on its standing committees to next Monday

What? No surprise to me....I think they are postponing these standing committees until after Abadi announces his government....to see how well balanced they will be with his selections.

Iraq sues a Greek company for oil shipped Kurdistan

Bark Bark Bark...but just how bad will the bite be....watch and see if there is any follow up to this....again I suspect Maliki's COM at work here....where will Abadi's COM land on this issue is a good question....will they recognize the good that the Kurds are proving they can do....or will the ongoing fight continue between Baghdad and Erbil?

Kurds withdraw from negotiations to form a government: We will not participate in the ministry does not know its own merits

See what good ole US intervention will get you....the Kurds backing away from the negotiations table.....this could bode not well for the Kurds by backing away at such a late hour.....are they truly upset over their demands not being addressed by Abadi...or are the upset at being held over a barrel by the US to back off their demands in exchange for arms and military equipment, something provoked this late move....something serious.

On the back of al-Maliki ordered his arrest .. most prominent deputies of state law reveals the relationship Maliki massacre Spyker!

A new revelation....I don't think so Charlie Brown.....highly likely that M was involved in some way...even if indirectly.....Run M Run.

Jubouri US official: No great response so far to the demands of the blocks in the formation of the government

Speaker of Parliament al-Jubouri has meetings with US embassy officials regarding the seating of the upcoming new government....of course the embassy officials are only there to remind the Iraqis of the need to form a unified government, not that they would make suggestions or shake their heads over candidates that might be frowned upon....again though we see the reference to a new government in the next "few" hours.

Parliamentarians are demanding not to vote on a government that does not represent women by 30%

Late hour demands will likely not get you very far....especially demands as onerous as something like this....put forth your best candidates....male or female and let them be chosen on their merit....not because of gender.

Abadi put pressure on the blocks to resolve the formation of the government before the loss of the opportunity commissioning

Apparently Abadi still has some holes in his ministry and it sounds like they are largely due to a lack of qualified candidates being put in front of him from a variety of blocs....what is up with these politicians....is this an underhanded way of Maliki designed in a backhanded sort of way to see Abadi fail....don't discount that idea....but it gains nothing for Maliki other than maybe a few more hours or days as caretaker wimp.....I would like to think that in his mind, Abadi has candidates selected if he is not given ideas.....he will not let the time frame run out on his government.

Breaking News Parliament to receive names of government officials within few hours

Breaking news!!! Hardly......but still we are supposed to be focused on the next few hours....we shall see.

Saudi Arabia launches a security fence with Iraq's borders is the longest in the world

900 kilometers.....an incredible distance......complete with sensor towers, cameras and who knows what else.....one would think....if the Saudi's can do....so could the US.....if someone in the east wanted to do it.....hire the contractor that designed this and made it so.....just saying.

'House Money Muslims' devours money Iraqis in Mosul

Who controls what in Mosul today.....the Islamic State appears to be in control and is telling citizens...the banks are open...come in and take your money...but with one caveat....you may only get 10% of your balance...the rest must stay....and it makes one wonder what happens to the rest...will the customers ever see the rest...many questions raised......there needs to be some serious head-knocking done in Mosul...but that is right there aren't any boots on the ground to handle this.

Kurdish lawmaker: rule out a vote on the federal budget today

A Kurdish MP has stated that it is impossible to vote on the draft of the federal budget.....many changes have occurred in the last several months....much money has been used to pay for military operations and the use of volunteers to fight the terrorists....still the issues flare up over Kurdish percentages....so it would appear that not much has changed with regard to the 2014 budget...remaining stalemated for the time being.

Planning: We did not get to No. My guess for 2015 budget

Planning......2015.....budget.....government....wait we need to reorganize our priorities here and get the government seated so "they" can put the budget for 2015 together....it is up to them to do the planning....the 2014 budget...well there is only four more months left....dragging feet.

Kurdish lawmaker: differences blocs on the government are still ongoing and the parliament did not receive the names of ministers

A few hours have indeed passed and still we see no list of names....what can Abadi be up to....is he being purposefully stonewalled by some in order to thwart his attempt at sitting a government on time....who knows....it does seem as if he is giving it his best effort though....differences between the National Alliance and the Kurds and Sunnis...surprise surprise.

Maliki Supports Freeing Former Senior Saddam Officials

Maliki's orders....while they may not have the clout attached to them they once had....he still has some powers....and releasing these criminals....is apparently something akin to the US pardons that are so prevalent with outgoing presidents....will he do this is anyone's guess at this point....just the fact that he's shown approval for it speaks enough.

This isn't all of the news Family....but I need to take a break for now.....will be back with more later